Motion transmitting control assembly



June 23, 1970 w. B. CONRAD 3,516,299

MOTION TRANSMITTING CONTROL ASSEMBLY Filed June 24, 1968 INVENTOR.

I, s Mizihro v A. Conrad 9- 6 M% mmfi y A TTOR/VE V5 United States Patent US. Cl. 74-501 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A motion transmitting remote control assembly including a flexible conduit movably supporting a motion transmitting core element. A terminal means is secured to one end of the core element and includes a pocket for receiving an enlarged head portion of a control element. A tubular member surrounds the terminal means and has an opening therein with a large portion and a small portion. The tubular member is movable to a receiving position where the large portion of the opening is disposed over the pocket so that the head of the control element may be disposed in the pocket of the terminal means. The tubular member is also movable to a retaining position where the small portion of the opening is disposed over the pocket for retaining the head of the control element in the pocket. A tubular fitting is attached to the end of the conduit and the tubular member extends from the terminal means and is in telescoping relationship with the fitting.

This invention relates to motion transmitting remote control assemblies of the type which are normally utilized to transmit motion in a curved path by a flexible motion transmitting core element. More specifically, the invention relates to a terminal means secured to one end of the core element and adapted to be connected to a control element. The control element is one which is moved by the core element means or moves the core element. The invention is particularly directed to a terminal means having a pocket therein for receiving an enlarged head or ball which extends from the control element with means to retain the enlarged head of the control element in the pocket of the terminal means.

Heretofore, there have been provided metal terminal means for securement to the end of the core element and having a pocket therein to receive an enlarged head portion of a control element. In order to retain the enlarged head portion element in the pocket of the terminal means of the prior art devices, a spring metal clip is disposed about the terminal means to engage the shank of the control element which supports the enlarged head. The problem associated with such a device is that they are comparatively expensive to manufacture and are difficult to position on the terminal means.

Accordingly, it is an object and feature of this invention to provide an improved terminal means for a remote control assembly with a retaining means operably connected to the terminal means and movable relative thereto between a receiving position for engaging a control element with the terminal means and a retaining 3,516,299 Patented June 23, 1970 position for retaining the control element in mechanical interlocking engagement with the terminal means.

In correlation with the foregoing object and feature of this invention, it is another object and feature of this invention to provide a terminal means having a pocket therein for receiving an enlarged head of a control element which, in turn, has a reduced section supporting the enlarged head with the retaining means being movable between the receiving and retaining position so as to retain the enlarged head in mechanical interlocking engagement with the terminal means when in the retaining position.

In correlation with the foregoing objects and features, another object and feature of this invention is to provide such a remote control assembly which includes a flexible conduit having a fitting secured to one end thereof with the retaining means being a tubular member disposed about the terminal means and extending therefrom so as to be disposed in telescoping relationship with the fitting.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention and showing the retaining means in the receiving position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the retainer means in the retaining position;

FIG. 3 is a view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 3 but showing an alternative embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, preferred embodiments of the motion transmitting remote control assembly constructed in accordance with the instant invention are generally shown at 10 and 10'.

The motion transmitting remote control assembly includes a wire-like motion transmitting core element 12. The assembly also includes a guide means comprising the flexible conduit 14 and the fitting 16 for movably supporting the motion transmitting core element 12. Only one end of the assembly is shown and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the other end of the core element 12 is appropriately attached to a control element or controlled element or has a manually graspable portion by which the core element 12 may be moved and the other end of the conduit is attached to a support structure through a fitting.

There is also included a terminal means 18 which is secured to one end of the core element 12 and is adapted for engaging a control element generally indicated at 20. The core element 12 has a loop 22 in one end thereof and preferably the terminal means 18 is of organic polymeric or plastic material and is molded about the loop 22 so as to be disposed in mechanical interlocking engagement with the core element 12.

There is also included a retaining means generally indicated at 24 and 24', respectively. Each retaining means is operatively connected to the terminal means 18 and is movable relative thereto between a receiving position and a retaining position. The retaining means 24 is shown in the receiving position in FIG. 1 for engaging the control element 20 with the terminal means 18. The retaining means 24 is shown in the retaining position in FIG. 2 for retaining the control element 20 in mechanical interlocking engagement with the terminal means 18. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 6, the retaining means 24' is shown in the retaining position for retaining the control element 20 in mechanical interlocking engagement with the terminal means 18.

The terminal means 18 has a pocket 26 therein for receiving the enlarged head or ball 28 of the control element 20, the control element 20 having a reduced section or shaft 30 for supporting the enlarged head 28.

The retaining means 24 and 24' each have an opening therein with a large portion 32 and a small portion 34. The large portion 32 of the opening is disposed over the pocket 26 when the retaining means 24 and 24' are in the receiving position for allowing the enlarged head 28 of the control element 20 to be disposed in the pocket 26. The smallest portion 34 of the opening is disposed over the pocket 26 when the retaining means 24 and 24' are in the retaining position to allow the reduced section 30 of the control element 20 to extend therethrough for retaining the enlarged head 28 in the pocket 26.

The retaining means 24 and 24 are respectively slidably connected to the terminal means 18. There is included stop means comprising the projections 36 and 36' and the recesses 38 and 38 coacting between the terminal means 18 and the respective retaining means 24 and 24 for defining the receiving and retaining positions. The recesses 38 are spaced from one another as are the recesses 38'. The difference between the embodiment of FLIGS. 1 through 3 and the embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6 is that in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3 the retaining means 24 is slidable longitudinally along the terminal means 18 whereas in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6 the retaining means 24' is rotatable relative to the terminal means 18. Thus, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3 the recesses 38 are disposed longitudinally along the terminal means 18 whereas the recesses 38 in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6 are disposed circumferentially about the terminal means 18. The projection, 36 or 36, is disposed in one of the recesses, 38 or 38', when the retaining means, 24 or 24', is in the receiving position and is disposed in the other recess when the retaining means is in the retaining position. In both embodiments the retaining means 24 or 24' takes the form of a circular tubular member which surrounds the terminal means 18. The terminal means 18 has a circular cross section as is best illustrated in FIG. 6.

The tubular retaining means 24 and 24 are also preferably made of organic polymeric or plastic material. The fitting 16 is elongated and extends from a first end of the conduit 14. The fitting 16 is also preferably made of organic polymeric or plastic material. In the preferred embodiment the retaining means 24 and 24' are elongated and extend from the terminal means 18 and are in telescoping relationship with the fitting 16. The retaining means 24 and 24' are tubular members which are slidably disposed about the fitting 16. It will be noted that the end of the tubular members comprising the retaining means 24 and 24' which slides along the fitting 16 is flared as indicated at 40.

In operating the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3 the retaining means 24 is moved to the receiving position as illustrated in FIG. 1 and the pocket 26 receives the enlarged head 28. Thereafter, the retaining means 24 is moved to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, to move the projection 36 out of one recess 38 and toward the other recess 38 so that the projection 36 falls into the other recess 38 as shown in FIG. 2. This defines the retaining position wherein the small portion 34 of the opening of the retaining means 24 is disposed about the reduced section 34 of the control element 20 to retain the enlarged head 28 in the pocket 26.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6 operates in a similar manner except the retainer means 24 is rotated relative to the terminal means between the receiving and retaining position.

The invention has been described in an illustrative mannear and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A motion transmitting remote control assembly comprising: a motion transmitting core element, guide means movably supporting said core element, terminal means secured to one end of said core element for engaging a control element, and retaining means operably connected to said terminal means and movable relative thereto between a receiving position for engaging a control element with said terminal means and a retaining position for retaining the control element in mechanical interlocking engagement with said terminal means, said terminal means having a pocket therein for receiving an enlarged head of a control element having a reduced section which supports the enlarged head, said retaining means being slidably connected to said terminal means, said retaining means having an opening therein with a large portion and a small portion, said large portion of said opening being disposed over said pocket when said retaining means is in said receiving position for allowing the enlarged head of a control element to be disposed in said pocket, said small portion of said opening being disposed over said pocket when said retaining means is in said retaining position to allow the reduced section of a control element to extend therethrough for retaining the enlarged head of a control element in said pocket.

2. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 1, including stop means coacting between said terminal means and said retaining means for defining said receiving and said retaining positions.

3. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said stop means comprises a projection and a pair of spaced recesses, said projection being disposed in one of said recesses when said retaining means is in said receiving position and disposed in the other recess when said retaining means is in said retaining position.

4. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said terminal means is elongated and said retaining means is slidable therealong.

5. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said retaining means surrounds said terminal means.

6. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said terminal means has a circular cross section and said retaining means slides rotatably thereabout.

7. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said retaining means surrounds said terminal means.

8. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said guide means comprises a flexible conduit and an elongated fitting extending from a first end thereof, said retaining means is elongated and extends from said terminal means and is in telescoping relationship with said fitting.

9. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said terminal means has a circular cross section and said retaining means is a tubular member surrounding said terminal means.

10. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said tubular member is slidably disposed about said fitting.

11. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the end of said tubular member which slides along said fitting is flared.

12. A motion transmitting remote control assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said terminal means, said fitting, and said retaining means are made of organic polymeric material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JAMES A. WONG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 287-90, 103 

